Suicide risk assessment with Indigenous peoples: Exploring providers’ knowledge and experiences

Safety planning is an intervention that mental health practitioners use following a suicidal risk assessment. In practice, safety planning practices in response to suicidality seldom consider the diverse needs of marginalized communities. The overarching lack of culturally relevant suicide safety planning practices is especially troubling for Indigenous peoples in Canada, who are disproportionately impacted by […]

Veteran experiences with suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and social support in safety planning within the Department of Veterans Affairs

Introduction: This evaluation examined the role of safety plans, one of a host of clinical suicide prevention interventions available for veterans through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ national network of health care facilities managed by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Materials and methods: Interviews were conducted with veterans who had experienced suicidal ideation or a […]

Safety planning intervention training among early career mental health professionals: Perception of self-efficacy, usefulness and feasibility

Introduction In 2021, in Argentina there were 3,639 deaths by suicide, equivalent to one death every three hours. Evidence indicates that brief suicide preventive interventions in emergency services, such as the Safety Planning Intervention (SPI), effectively reduce future suicidal ideation and attempts in both adults and adolescents. Objective To evaluate the perception of self-efficacy, and […]

Adapting suicide safety plans for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Introduction Although risk for suicide appears elevated in individuals with intellectual and developmental disorders (I/DD), few interventions or tools addressing suicide prevention have been adapted for this population. Among evidence-based interventions for preventing suicide, safety planning interventions are an effective and commonly employed intervention for reducing suicide-related risk. Methods By drawing on Special Education praxis […]

Crisis response planning rapidly reduces suicidal ideation among U.S. military veterans receiving massed cognitive processing therapy for PTSD

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among U.S. military veterans and is associated with increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Crisis response planning (CRP), a brief safety planning-type intervention, has been shown to rapidly reduce suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in emergency and acute care settings. CRP’s effectiveness when combined with trauma-focused therapies remains unknown. In this […]

Development and implementation of web-based safety planning intervention training for firefighter peer support specialists

Background: Recent findings indicate that firefighters may be at increased risk for death by suicide; however, there has been only limited suicide prevention work in fire service to date. Aim: The objective of this program evaluation project was to develop and evaluate a web-based Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) training course for firefighter peer support specialists. Method: Peer support specialists who […]

Classifying coping strategies from suicide prevention safety plans

Introduction Understanding the specific strategies individuals use to cope with their suicidal thoughts may have implications for suicide prevention. This study developed a classification system of coping strategies and applied this system to individual coping behaviors documented in a safety planning intervention smartphone application called Beyond Now. Method 725 Beyond Now safety planning app users, […]

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for individuals who are suicidal: A randomized controlled trial

There is a need for well-described treatments targeting individuals at risk for suicidal behaviors. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of MBCT adapted to individuals who are suicidal (MBCT-S) in a randomized controlled trial, comparing an intervention group receiving MBCT-S and treatment as usual (TAU) with a control group receiving TAU only. Participants […]

Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians’ views on EMS-delivered interventions to promote secure firearm storage practices

Introduction Lethal means safety counseling (LMSC) to promote secure firearm storage may reduce the risk of firearm-involved deaths, including suicide. We examined if emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians, including emergency medical technicians and paramedics, may be suitable LMSC messengers. Method We conducted a web-based survey of 229 US EMS clinicians. Results While few EMS clinicians […]

Impact of a virtual suicide safety planning training on clinician knowledge, self-efficacy, and use of safety plans in community mental health clinics

Objective: Safety planning is a critical evidence-based intervention used to prevent suicide among individuals who report suicidal ideation or behavior. There is a dearth of research on optimal ways to disseminate and implement safety plans in community settings. The present study examined one implementation strategy, a 1-hour virtual pre-implementation training, designed to teach clinicians to effectively […]

Cost comparison of in-person and telehealth modalities for a suicide safety planning group intervention: Interim results from the “Project Life Force” randomized clinical trial

Suicide prevention is a clinical priority for the US Veterans Health Administration. Evidence-based interventions, including developing a suicide safety plan, are recommended practices and are becoming more widespread. Adaptations to further augment safety planning include a manualized group intervention (Project Life Force, PLF) that combines safety planning with the teaching of skills to maximize use […]

Designing implementation strategies for a digital suicide safety planning intervention in a psychiatric emergency department: Protocol for a multimethod research project

Background: Suicide prevention is currently a national health priority in Canada. Emergency departments (EDs) are critical settings for suicide prevention, and in our local psychiatric ED at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, we plan to embed an app-based tool called the Hope app to support suicide safety planning intervention. The app is free and […]

Feasibility of peer-delivered suicide safety planning in the emergency department: Results from a pilot trial

Objective: The emergency department (ED) is an important site for suicide prevention efforts, and safety planning has been identified as a best practice for suicide prevention among ED patients at increased suicide risk. However, few ED clinicians are prepared to assess suicide risk or guide patients in the creation of safety plans. This study was a […]

Suicide intervention practices: What is being used by mental health clinicians and mental health allies?

Objective: Implementation of evidence-based suicide prevention is critical to prevent death by suicide. Contrary to previously held beliefs, interventions including contracting for safety, no-harm contracts, and no-suicide contracts are not best practices and are considered contraindicated. Little is known about the current use of best practices and contraindicated interventions for suicide prevention in community settings. Methods: Data […]

Comparative effectiveness of safety planning intervention with instrumental support calls (ISC) versus safety planning intervention with two-way text message caring contacts (CC) in adolescents and adults screening positive for suicide risk in emergency departments and primary care clinics: Protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death in adolescents and adults in the US. Follow-up support delivered when patients return home after an emergency department (ED) or primary care encounter can significantly reduce suicidal ideation and attempts. Two follow-up models to augment usual care including the Safety Planning Intervention have high efficacy: Instrumental Support Calls […]

MYPLAN: A mobile phone application for supporting people at risk of suicide

Background: Safety plans have been suggested as an intervention for people at risk of suicide. Given the impulsive character of suicidal ideation, a safety plan in the format of a mobile phone application is likely to be more available and useful than traditional paper versions. Aims: The study describes MYPLAN, a mobile phone application designed to support […]

Veteran experiences with suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and social support in safety planning within the Department of Veterans Affairs

Introduction This evaluation examined the role of safety plans, one of a host of clinical suicide prevention interventions available for veterans through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ national network of health care facilities managed by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Materials and Methods Interviews were conducted with veterans who had experienced suicidal ideation […]

Suicide prevention: What does the evidence show for the effectiveness of safety planning for children and young people? A systematic scoping review

Introduction Suicide is a leading cause of death for children and young people and its prevention is a global priority. Many Mental Health Services employ safety planning as a brief intervention. There is some evidence of safety planning effectiveness for adults, but little is known about its effectiveness with young people. Aim To synthesize research […]

Adapted suicide safety plans to address self‑harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide behaviours in autistic adults: Protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial

Background Suicide prevention is a national priority for the UK government. Autistic people are at greater risk of experiencing self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours than the general population. Safety plans are widely used in suicide prevention but have not yet been designed with and for autistic people. We developed the first safety plan specifically […]

Adapted suicide safety plans to address self‑harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide behaviours in autistic adults: Protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial

Background Suicide prevention is a national priority for the UK government. Autistic people are at greater risk of experiencing self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours than the general population. Safety plans are widely used in suicide prevention but have not yet been designed with and for autistic people. We developed the first safety plan specifically […]

Effectiveness of suicide safety planning interventions: A systematic review informing occupational therapy

Background. Suicide safety planning (SSP) is a suicide prevention approach that involves developing a collaborative plan between a service provider such as an occupational therapist and a person who is at risk of suicide. Purpose. To synthesize effectiveness studies on SSP. Method. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, we conducted a systematic review of effectiveness studies including a: […]

Innovative suicide prevention safety planning in the ED involves peers

Observing that the emergency department (ED) is an important site for suicide prevention efforts and noting that safety planning has been identified as a best practice for suicide prevention among ED patients at increased suicide risk, researchers have embarked on first-time research examining such efforts.

Safety planning on crisis lines: Feasibility, acceptability, and perceived helpfulness of a brief intervention to mitigate future suicide risk

Background The role of crisis hotlines traditionally was limited to de-escalation and service linkage. However, hotlines are increasingly recruited to provide outreach and follow-up to suicidal individuals. Hotlines have the opportunity to not just defuse current crises but also provide brief interventions to mitigate future risk. The Safety Planning Intervention (SPI) is a brief intervention […]